Just before midnight on January 9, 2026, Joan Edna Van Riper, 93, shed the pains of this life and found eternal peace with her family, friends and pets waiting for her in their forever home.

Joan was born in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey on March 18,1932 to Elijah Wilson and Edna Mae (Mabey) Wilson, the middle child of three. After Joan’s childhood, the Wilsons moved to Towaco, New Jersey, where the extended family had resided for generations.

On January 17, 1953, she married Mirvin Van Riper, Jr. at the Whitehall Methodist Church in Towaco. After a brief spell in Montville, they located to Towaco where Joan spent most of her life.

Joan was always a hard worker. After she graduated from high school, she went to work for the Prudential Insurance company, commuting by bus to Newark. She worked a variety of jobs until becoming the Court Clerk for Montville Township, a position she held for 32 years, retiring as Court Administrator.

After retiring, Joan travelled to many of the places she had dreamed of. She and a small band of fellow travelers would either be on a trip, remembering former expeditions, or planning for the next one. Her favorite was Italy, but she travelled the world.

Besides the love of her family, Joan’s greatest passion was for her Yankees. She was a life-long fan. She never missed a game, knew all the player’s stats, and would even watch replays during the off season. Woe to the player that missed a play, she would let them know in no uncertain terms about how she felt. Right now, the Yankees home office is scrambling to find her replacement.

Joan was predeceased by her parents, her husband of 62 years Mirvin, daughter Dawn Marie Flynn, sister Phyllis Rockefeller and brother Richard Wilson, along with close friends Jeanette Van Riper and Marilyn Beil.

Joan is survived by her son Robert, Of Temple, Maine, daughter Cindy Wallace (Neal) of Arvada, Colorado, son in law Patrick Flynn of Fort Myers, Florida, grandchildren JP, Carrie, Ben, Katie, Amy, and Tori, and 5 great grandchildren. Her presence and love will be greatly missed by all.

Services for Joan are at the Cochran Funeral Home, 95 High Street, Hackettstown on Thursday, January 22 from 4 to 7 PM. Service at 11 AM on Friday, January 23 at Cochran Funeral Home with internment at the Pequest Union Cemetery in Great Meadows to follow.